Indians Prospect Insider

The Lake County Captains (18-33) scored one run in the sixth inning and put them on the winning side of a 1-0 pitchers duel against the Dayton Dragons (23-31) on Friday night. With the win, Lake County has won three straight games for the first time in 2013.

The Carolina Mudcats fell 8-3 in the series opener with the Winston-Salem Dash at BB&T Ballpark Friday night. Right-handed pitcher Nick Pasquale started the game for the Mudcats, tossing 4.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Lefty Francisco Jimenez took the loss for the Mudcats pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits.

With Chris Perez's recent injury and Vinnie Pestano's struggles, the Cleveland Indians' bullpen has been in shambles. Manager Terry Francona recently announced that Pestano would assume closing duties in Perez's absence, but was it the right decision? Join the IBI's Steve Orbanek for his weekly column, Orbiting Cleveland, as he makes the argument that it should actually be right-hander Cody Allen coming on in the ninth for the Indians.

Most of us who play baseball video games dream of seeing our name and likeness as a part of the game. Unlike most of us, Akron Aeros outfielder Carlos Moncrief has a chance at achieving that dream. Moncrief is playing at the Double-A level for the first time in his career and is doing a good job, though he has room for improvement. When he is on, though, Moncrief really puts on a show -- something he enjoys doing. Jim Piascik recently spoke with Moncrief about taking over games, his impressive power, and what he has to do over the rest of the season to be successful.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with removing any drama from a ballgame and simply battering your opponent into submission in the span of roughly ten minutes. Like a high-pressure system rolling along the radar screen, the Tribe bats cracked six consecutive two-out hits off Reds pitchers Homer Bailey and Alfredo Simon in the fourth inning, then left an eerie calm in their wake for the rest of the night. Andrew Clayman shares his second thoughts on a big Indians win...

After a one-week sabbatical, the guys are back to discuss all the latest Tribe and MLB news! The Indians skidded a bit last week, but snapped out of it with a two-game home series sweep against the Reds. Can Cleveland hold their own against the baseball elite and keep pace with the Tigers for the division lead? Jake and Hayden talk about all of that and more....

Jim Piascik was at Akron's 15 inning win Thursday night and he only has one thing to report from it: it was long. Outside of a relatively boring game in Akron, the Mudcats made a late charge at a victory, some Lake County players showed some power, and a Columbus outfielder displayed why he may be a major league option at some point in 2013. To find out all you need to know about Thursday in the minor leagues, join Jim as he goes Around The Farm.

Down 2-1 in the ninth inning, first baseman Jesus Aguilar tied the game with an opposite field home run, just out of right fielder Steven Souza Jr.'s reach at the "It's A Whole New Ballgame" sign. After the two teams went six more innings, it almost literally was. The Akron Aeros (24-30) won 3-2 Thursday night in 15 innings, defeating the Harrisburg Senators (27-27) on a bases-loaded walk-off single by right fielder Carlos Moncrief.

The Ohio Cup will be staying in Cleveland after the Indians took down their state rival Cincinnati Reds for the second straight night, 7-1. Thursday’s series finale with the Reds can be summed up in one inning: the Tribe’s fourth inning. Cleveland bats caught fire in the inning, scoring all seven of their runs in the ballgame in frame off Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey. Join Jim Berdysz as he recaps Thursday's win.

Just two days ago, manager Jeff Isom critiqued that hitters on his team were trying too hard to hit that a four-run home run when they should just take what they’re given. Today, Freedom starter Brandon Mathes gave left fielder Kevin Berard a pitch in his wheel house, and Berard turned it into one of those four-run home runs previously mentioned. With two outs in the fourth inning, he hit a laser shot over the left field wall, capping a five run inning for the Crushers in which they took a 6-3 lead and never looked back.

The Carolina Mudcats fell into a hole early against the Wilmington Blue Rocks but rallied in the ninth inning before falling 4-3 on Thursday night. The loss was the Mudcats 15th one-run loss of the season, bringing the Mudcats record to 19-33.

The Columbus Clippers fell to the Louisville Bats 4-1 in the final game of the series Thursday night. The Bats snatched the series from the Clippers 3-1. Indians pitching prospect Danny Salazar picked up his first loss of the season (0-1, 2.08 ERA), pitching four innings and giving up three earned runs on six hits. Bats pitcher Greg Reynolds, on the other hand, pitched a near-complete game going 8.1 innings, allowing one earned run on nine hits.

The players the Indians might draft appears to be narrowing, which is of course natural as we are just a week from the draft. The IBI's Jeff Ellis has been hard at work researching and following players all year and provides a list of six players who he things will be there when the Indians pick at #5. There is a ton of debate about this pick, so he provides his thoughts why each player should and why they shouldn't be picked.

The Lake County Captains (17-33) used two home runs in the first three innings to build a 5-0 lead en route to a 6-1 win on Thursday afternoon. Lake County won the final two games of the series to win their fourth series of the year. The Captains gave lefty Ryan Merritt the ball in the rubber game of the series as he took on right-hander Dylan Floro for the Hot Rods.

Thanks to the holiday weekend, today’s edition of Minor Happenings is the only edition this week, but have no fear, it is a doozy. In today’s extended edition Tony takes a look at the struggles that Trevor Bauer is having in Columbus, what his problem is, and what he needs to do to get himself right. He also looks at the recent adjustments made by Matt Packer, the strides Lonnie Chisenhall is making, shares some comments from the front office on pitchers like Austin Adams, Jordan Cooper, Trey Halley and others, provides several injury updates, and discusses several prospects like Danny Salazar, Tyler Holt, Fabio Martinez, Anthony Santander and more!

The Columbus Clippers finished their eighth week of the season losing six of the seven games played and are now 29-24 on the year. The six games lost this week are the most the Clippers have lost in a week all season, and come a week after they set their longest win streak of the season with six in a row. The IBI's Cameron Weimer takes us sailing with his weekly Clippers notebook...

Join Andrew and Jeff tonight at 8:00pm for a heavy dose of Indians and MLB draft talk. Jeff will be unveiling his updated top 33 for this years draft, and there will be a lot of talk about how things could unfold at pick number five for the Indians. Listen in to The Inside Pitch!

This Indians entered this game really struggling. They’d lost five straight for the second time this season and in the midst of a tough stretch of games that included two more games against a Cincinnati Reds team that has been as hot as the Indians are cold. The good news is that ace Justin Masterson took the hill to stop the losing streak and Jason Giambi came through with a big hit. Join Michael Goodman as he gives his Second Thoughts on Wednesday's win.

Things were busy on the farm Wednesday, with all of Cleveland's affiliates in action and Lake County completing a doubleheader. Great performances rolled in from throughout the system, with major league options impressing in Columbus, top prospects shining in Akron and Carolina, and a Lake County prospect hitting his first home run of the season. The headlines, however, belonged to a dominant Carolina pitcher and a returning reliever making his first appearance of the season. To find out who these players are and find out all you need to know about Wednesday in the minor leagues, join Jim Piascik and go Around The Farm.

It took a much improved team effort for the Akron Aeros to end their four-game losing streak as they defeated the Harrisburg Senators 6-3 on Wednesday night at Canal Park. The Aeros' performance showed a major improvement in both steady pitching and hitting from the night before.